How are Birth Doulas and Postpartum Doulas Different?
Most people are familiar with a birth doula’s roles and mission and probably know someone that has used a birth doula or have even used one themselves.
Birth doulas are proven through ongoing studies to significantly reduce multiple risks related to childbirth including an impressive 31% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with the birth experience. I highly recommend finding and using a birth doula that you can really connect with - it’s worth the investment!
Despite the widely known purpose of a birth doula, postpartum doulas are not as commonly known about (let’s change this!).
I often receive a confused look when people hear my title “Postpartum Doula”. It’s also common that people don’t even hear the word “postpartum” and when they hear “doula” they automatically register me as a birth doula, which definitely gets confusing. So, let’s break this down! There are a lot of similarities between a birth and postpartum doula, but what are the differences?
Differences between Birth Doulas and Postpartum Doulas:
A postpartum doula is not physically present at your birth. Birth doulas, however, are on call and there with you every step of the way during your labor and delivery.
Some birth doulas do offer some form of support postpartum—you will usually see them at least once after your baby is born to discuss your birthing experience together and process it all. But the vast majority of support from a birth doula will be during your pregnancy and birth.
Similarities between Birth Doulas and Postpartum Doulas
Both postpartum and birth doulas start working with you during your pregnancy. I begin working with my clients in their third trimester of pregnancy so that we can establish our relationship and create a shared vision and dream plan for her postpartum time. We’ll discuss breastfeeding goals and start the process of organizing a team of support around her after her baby is born!
Although not physically present at your birth, a postpartum doula—like a birth doula—will help you process and unpack your birth story. It’s important to have someone to talk to and work through any trauma that might have occurred in your birthing room.
Both types of doulas’ focus is on the mother and her needs while also empathetically engaging with and offering support for dads and partners.
Advocating for the mother is also a mission that birth and postpartum doulas share. Holding boundaries is important during both the birthing process and the days/weeks/months following your baby’s entrance into the extrauterine world.
You will establish a close and intimate bond with both a birth and postpartum doula. These are, by nature, intimate, precious and vulnerable times, which is why it is so important to be sure that you are completely comfortable with the birth/postpartum doula you are choosing.
Both birth and postpartum doulas are born from the same need: bringing back more feminine, nurturing and mother centered care. Maternal care throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum has, over generations, become slowly more and more diluted. We have lost many of the traditions of concentrated support and wisdom that used to be passed down from mother to daughter, grandmother to granddaughter etc. Doulas often fill the same role that was taken on by close women family members in other cultures and in generations past.
Below is an approximate comparison of the time investment of a birth doula and postpartum doula.
Birth Doula
Postpartum Doula
As you can see there are so many similarities between the type of care provided by a birth and postpartum doula! The main difference changes quite a bit, and both are equally needed for the positive physical, mental and emotional outcomes proven to be associated with doula care.